Samsung Medical Center study links smoking cessation to lower liver cancer risk

A joint research team from Samsung Medical Center and Sungkyunkwan University has published a study in the journal ‘Preventive Medicine’ regarding the relationship between smoking habits and liver cancer risk in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Analyzing data from 127,196 patients via the National Health Insurance Service, the study compared three groups: continuous conventional smokers, those who quit smoking, and those who switched to e-cigarettes. The findings indicated that both the smoking cessation group and the e-cigarette transition group showed an approximately 22% lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to continuous conventional smokers.

When analyzing participants who maintained their status for at least three years, the risk reduction was 36% for the continuous cessation group and 27% for the e-cigarette group compared to continuous smokers. Researchers emphasized that while quitting smoking remains the most desirable option, switching to e-cigarettes may be associated with reduced risk for those unable to quit entirely. However, they cautioned that as an observational study, these results do not prove causality or the long-term safety and health benefits of e-cigarettes.